Toe pad



F. A. SMITH April 2, 1935.

TOE PAD Filed Aug. 25, 1933 INVENTOR. FRED A 5/7/ TH I 42%NEY v Patented Apr. 2 19 35 Application August 23,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to means for protecting the toes of a wearerand has reference more particularly to" a toe pad especially adapted to provide cushioning protection for the toes of a toe '5 dancer. 1 I

It has been proposed to provide toe pads, caps, shields or protectors for wear inside a dancing shoe to' protect the toes of a toe dancer but as these pads were often made of rubber, or other substances, considerable trouble resulted due to theformation of blisters onthe toes. It has been also found desirable to provide special protection for the toes of persons exposed to cold weather to prevent freezing of the toes and prevent further inconvenience due to cold feet.

An object of this invention therefore, is to provide a toe pad made of fur which acts as a cushion drawing forming-a part of this specification, in

which I v Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a human foot with my improved toe pad shown in cross section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the toe pad.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the toe pa taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. V

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a toe dancers foot in dancing position, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view. of a modified form of double toe pad. x

two similar pieces of fur H which are of semicircular shape to conform in general to the out,- line of the toes on the human foot. One side [2 of the fur pieces placed adjacent the'outside of the foot is preferably longer than the other side i3 which is arranged adjacent the inside of the foot. An arcuate opening I4 isformed in the fur pieces connecting the sides I! and l 3.

The upper andlower fur pieces II are connected together along their semi-circular outer edges by a glove seam I5 to form anenvelop or cap. The two fur pieces are so arranged that the fur extends inwardly and rearwardly, the fur leather being on the outside in contactwith the shoe Hi of the wearer, and thefur I! being in My improved toe pad l0 isprefe'rably made of 1933,Serial No. 686,329

direct contact with the toes and foot N3 of the wearer. As the pad is slippedover the toes of the foot, the fur I1 is crowded forwardly toward the toe of the pad to form a cushion [9 which aids in preventing injury to the toes of a toe dancer.

If desired, a stocking may be worn between the pad and the foot I8. The for of the toe pad provides a certain measure of ventilation aroundthe may be used. The rabbit fur is especiallyuseful as it does not matup when the pad is in use.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, V V

a toe pad of double thickness is provided for added cushioning effect when worn by toe-tap dancers. The complete pad is made by telescoping together two' fur pieces 20 with two smaller fur pieces 2|, the fourfur pieces being" stitched together, around a portion of their periphery by a common seam of glove stitching 22. The fur of each fur piece extends inwardly and rearwardly for the same reasons as that described above.

My improved toepad provides propercushion ing effect for toe dancers as it enables the dancer to feel thefloorf, thereby giving a greater ef-II ficiency in this arduous performance.- Where the toe cannot feel the floor the effect is as:

fdancing on air which is 'detrimental to' efli ciency. The toe pad is so designed as tov snugly fit overall the toes and not to extend beyond I the box of the shoe] The fur extends backwards over the edge. of the leather thus preventing any irritation by cutting into the foot. The toe pad also permits relative movement between the pad and the shoe and between the pad and the toes, I

thus providing maximum freedom of movement and comfort for the dancer and elimination of any irritation.

The fur in the pad forms many minute air spaces which affords proper ventilation, forfthe toes, thus preventing blistering from perspiracold weather.

easing the pains of corns, callouses and other; afflictions by removing frictionand' maintaining:

the natural warmth of the toes an'd'foot.

'45 tion and keeping the toes at normal temperature. The air spaces in the fur also provide anefiective heat insulator, thus protecting the'toes in The toe pad is also effective in:

ments of my invention, I do not limit' myself precisely to these details since, manifestly, the

same may be considerably varied without ideparting from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure'by Letters Patent;

1. In a toe pad a cap of fur adapted to fit loosely over the toes inside a shoe, the fur of said cap being turnedinwardly and rearwardly so as to crowd forwardly during the insertion of said cap on the toes and form a cushion adjacent the ends of the toes. V I 21in a toe pad, a pair of fur pieces shapedlike. the end of afoot and sewed together along a portion of the periphery thereof so asto form an envelop to enclose the forward .endof the foot,

cushion adjacent the ends of thetoes. g V

3. A cushioned shield for dancers, comprising contact with-z the toes.

the fur-of said pieces being turned inwardly and rearwardlyso as to :crowd forwardly during the insertion oi. saidenvelop on the toes. and form a a pair of telescoped envelopes oi' fur'covered skin joined together by a common peripheral seam, the

f ur of each envelop being turnedinwardly.

4 In a toe pad for dancers, an envelope of fur skm formed Qf two similar pieces of ma or semi-q circular shape to conform in generallsllape to'the 1 i g outline-otthe toes of the human foot, the semi-l said fur extending inwardly and rearwardly t0 jkcircular outer edges of said f ur'pieces being sewed together with a glove seam, the hairs of l5 FRED A. SMITH. V 

